Friday, July 8, 2011

Button bowl


Yes...I have too many bowls (I am still hoping that YartBowl will help) but I got an idea the other night and just went with it.

I was trying to see what would happen with gel medium on a balloon - and ended up adding interference paint - the overall gel was too thin. But I let it all dry and then popped the balloon - and the gel first shriveled into a tiny ball - it was so odd. I coached it back into a shape, and blew up a balloon inside the gel - which again took on a bowl shape ( is this clear or way confusing?)

Then I said...what now? Buttons caught my eye and I was off.


I have hundreds of white buttons - some with thread, some without. All shades of white, and some new and some old. I started gelling them to the outside of the gel bowl. and kept going and going.


The inside is still gel and interference paint and while a bit crinkled it's sort of creamy and oyster shell reminder. Plus the overall bowl is soft...you can fold it up a bit. Why you'd want to do this I don't know but this is how it all worked out.


Then I trimmed around the buttons (more to do) and then I basically considered it done.

So - that is my button bowl. I'd love to see if filled with hundreds of blue buttons - wouldn't that be something?

19 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I can just see some button collector salvating over this bowl Mim. It is cute as a button. Sorry I couldn't resist. It would be cool to fill it with one color of button too.

Snowbrush said...

My wife is an avid button collector, and I've seen clothing that was completely covered over by buttons (though not on her). Collectors often frown upon jewelry makers who use buttons because they sometimes unknowingly destroy expensive buttons by gluing them or cutting their shanks off. Buttons like you used are another matter though. Your bowl is lovely, and, yes, blue buttons would look great in it.

Baino said...

So that's where all the missing buttons go? Should I be worried about your bowl obsession? It is very pretty though.

yoborobo said...

I love buttons. :) I have jars of them in my work area. This is a great idea for a bowl! I have made several mosaics and used buttons as 'fillers'. Your bowl is very pretty with all those shades of white.

kj said...

the shape of this bowl and the dreamy inside makes me swoon


kj

Lynn Cohen said...

This is my favorite of all your bowls now...So ME!!! I love the trimmed around buttons and the shape that gives the bowl. Terrific.

Lori ann said...

mim, i love how you describe how you do each step, it's always so facinating to me. when are you coming back here? i can't wait to talk crafts with you!
xxx

Lori ann said...

i forgot to say your bowl is so pretty! keep them coming!

sukipoet said...

this is an incredibly inventive and original bowl. i have long noted how gel medium, when thick on the palette or whatever, dries into a really neat skin.

to make a bowl out of it is brilliant! love the button addition too. the bowl is magical, etherial. wonderful.

Amanda Summer said...

now that is really cool..........i just love the creative thoughts which you spin into reality.......

Robin said...

What a great Mim-ish idea!!! It is really lovely....and yes, fill it with coloured buttons! Gold, Silver or even....hmmm LILAC ones!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Annie said...

Mim, You can never make too many bowls :-). Or have too many! This is a lovely bowl. I have thought of using a balloon for a very thin porcelain bowl, but it would most likely warp when fired. I love the buttons the most. Lovely bowl. xoxo

~Babs said...

I'm betting this bowl is even more gorgeous than we can see in the photos,due to the subtle pearl coloring in the interference paint.
Very innovative, unique, and beautiful Mim!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Mim,

KJ sent me over and now that I have seen what you've done with gel and the buttons, my few remaining acting neurons are starting to spark.....
What a cool way to make a free form bowl, and love the inside!
Nice blog!

XXOO~~
Anne

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

I love bottons and white ones and pearly ones the best. I think this is my favorite one too.

Katiejane said...

Well, this is certainly different. Probably not functional but it looks a lot like those unusual works of art in the high end art magazines. Maybe you're onto something here! I'll look for you in my next issue of American Style!

studio lolo said...

This is totally MIMSICAL!!!

i love it!

Marion said...

Oh, what a fantastic bowl! I have a huge box of buttons that I inherited, and I'm becoming quite fascinated with them. The grandkids love to play with them. But I don't think I have enough blue buttons...red ones, though, there are many of those. I wonder if blue buttons were a little scarcer, when my buttons were being collected..xx

Snowbrush said...

Hey, Mim, where's that response from Anonymous that I got in my email? Did you not feel that he had a lot to add to the conversation? I saw all those porn links, and I thought, oh, no, Mim IS NOT going to like this.